Can opener



-Maych 16,1926. 1,577,261

7 F. E. JOHNSON CAN OPENER Filed June 27 1924 Patented Mar. 16, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OF E 5 rnnnnrox n. Jonnson, OF-LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA. Y

can ornate-Rf Application filed June 27,

anduseful improvements in Can Openers,

of which the following is a specification.

- This invention is a can opener and consists 1 of the novel features herein shown, described and claimed.

fAn 'objfect. isto make agcaiiopener which.

cuts downwardly instead'of upwardly.

. Other objects and advantages will appear from' the drawings and specification;

The drawings illustrate the construction and operation of acan openerembodymg the principles of the invention Figure 1 is a perspective of the can opener in operation. 1

Fig. 2 is aside elevation and taken looking in the direction indicated by the arrows 2 in Figs. 1 and 4.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary bottom plan view as" indicated by the arrows 3 in Figs. 2 and 4.

Fig. 4 is an end elevation as indicated by the arrows 4 in Figs. 2 and 3.

The details of construction and operation shown in the drawings are as follows:

The handle bars 1 and 2 are substantially parallel and spaced apart. An integral re turn bend 3 connects the outer ends of the handle bars 1 and 2. Attaching plates 4 and 5 are formed integral with the handle bars 1 and 2 and extendfrom the opposite ends from the returnhend 3. A pointed piercing prong 6 extends from the attaching. plate 5 and an ear 7 extends from the attaching plate 4, the prong and car being offset toward each other and rigidly secured together by a rivet 8. The cutting plate 9 fits between theattaching plates 4 and 5 and the guide supporting plate 10 [its against the outer face ofthe attaching plate 5 and rivets 11 and 12 are inserted through the parts 4, 5, 9 and 10 to hold the parts rigidly together. A cutting edge 13 is formed on the rear side of the plate 9 and extends downwardly and forwardly at an angle of about relative to the handle bars, 1 and 2and terminates in a point 14. A second cutting edge 15 extends from the point 14 upwardly and forw-ardlysubstantially at right angles to the cutting edge 13. A straight edge 16 is formed on the front side of the plate 9 substantially at right angles to the handle bars 1924. Serial No. 722,688.

1 a ncl"2 and extends downwardly nearly to the point 14 and is in line with the point 14.

A fulcrum member 17 is formed between the upper end of the cutting edge 15 and the lowerrend of the. straight edge 16. -The fulcrum member 17 is a liprounded'upwardly and downwardly from the lower'end of the edge 16 to the upper end of the edge 15, and the lip is'bent outwardly, that is, away from 1 the axis ofthe can 18 which is to be opened,

and the inner side of the edgeof the lip preferably beveled as at 19. The cutting edges 13 and 15 are formed by inside bevels 20 and 21. FA guide bar 22 extends downwardly from the supporting plate 10 to a point substantially on a level with the point 14. A hook 23 extends upwardly and forw'ardlyfrom the plate. 9 above the attaching plates 4 and 5. A bar 24 fits between the attaching plates 4 and 5 back of the plate 9 and is secured in place by a pivot 25. The free end of the: bar 24 has a transverse slot 26.

In the practical operation the can top 27 may be pierced by the prong 6 or by the point 14 and the point 14 is inserted throughthe opening until the fulcrum member 17 engages under the inner side of the rim 28 of the can 18. Then downward movement of the handle bars 1 and 2 will cause the guide bar 22 to engage outside of the rim .28 and the cutting edge 13 will cut the top '27 slightly inside of the rim 28. The cutting is done with a downward motion and the tin 29 projecting inwardly from the rim 28 will be turned inwardly and downwardly,

over the fulcrum member 17 and hold the fulcrum member against the rim 28. Continued vibration of the handle up and down will continue the operation at each down stroke, the can opener being advanced relative to 'the can top at each up stroke until the top is severed to the desired extent.

It is not intended that the bevel edge 19 upon the fulcrum member 17 will be sharp enough to cut through the tin, the object being to make the fulcrum member hug the inside of the rim 28. The plate 9 is curved as shown in Fig. 3 as required to operate close inside of the rim 28 and follow a circular path.

The hook 23 is adapted for removing caps opcningthe cans by placing the projecting end in the slot 26 and winding the strip upon the bar.

Various changes maybe made without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

I claim:

1. A can opener comprising a handle, a cutter extending downwardly from the forward end of the handle and having a, main cutting edge extending from the handle downwardly and diagonally toward the forward end of the can opener toward the handle and a secondary cutting edge extending from the 10 yer end of the nniincutting edge and torn'iing a point, a fulcrum me1nher extending upwardly from the secondary cutting edge and otlset to engage the inner side of a can rim, and a guide bar extending from the handle outside of the cutter and in front of the main cutting edge to engage the outer side of a can rim, so that when thepoint has been inserted through a 3:111 top inside of the can rim the fulcrum will engage the can rim and the cutter will work on adown stroke of the handle to out the can top.

2. A can opener comprising a handle havin a piercing point at the outer end, a cut ter interposed between the ends of the handle comprising a primary cutting edge extending diagonally toward the handle, a secondary cutting edge extending forwardly of the handle and forming a point at the lower end of the cutten a projection forwardly of the cutter bent to form a fulcrum adapted to engage the inner wall of a can, and a guide liar secured "to the side of the handle and extending transversely thereof and parallel to the cutter.

3. A can opener conlprising a handle having a piercing point at the outer end, a cutter interposed between the ends of the handle comprising a primary cutting edge extending diagonally toward the handle, a secondary cutting edge extending forwardly of the handle and forming a point at the lower end of the cutter, and a projection forwardly of the cutter bent to form a fulcrum adapted to engage the inner wall of a can.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

FREDR-ICK E. JOHNSON. 

